Decorticating, carding, and combing machine.



J. F. LAFONT.

DECORTICATING, CARDING, AND COMBING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14.19M.

1,223,077. Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

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JEAN- F. LAFONT, on N W ORLEANS LO ISIANA.

DECOR'IICATING, CARDING, AND"GO1V.[BING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. PatentedApr. 17, 1917.

Application filed January 14, 1914. Serial No. 312,043;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AN F. LAFONT, a citizen of France, and aresidentof New. Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana,fUnitedStates of America, have made certain new and useful Improvements inDecorticating, Carding, and Combing Machines, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for decorticating,carding and.

combing fibrous plants, and it consists in the comb nations,COIlStIllCtlOIlS, and arrangements hereln describedandclaimed.

An object of my invention is to providea combined decorticating,combing, and

carding device in one machine, thus doing awaywith the necessity ofadditional apparatus. A further object of my invention is to provide adevice having opposed rows of teeth adapted to be moved simultaneouslytoward or away from each other, said teeth being mounted soas to alsohave a simultaneous bodily movement. 7 I .i

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,andthe novel features of the device will be particularly pointed outinthe appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part.ofthis application in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of the'devicealong the line 11 of Fig.- 2, Fig. 2 is a face view of the device withthe combs and the operating mechanism comb members and-the means forattachin the latter to the carrying plate, I

Fig. '8 is a shown in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9is a central sectional view through a portion. of the comb.operating mecha nism, I

Fig. 10 is a perspective. view of'one of'the.

' comb members.

plan view of the mechanism In carrying out my invention: I provide .aseries of vertically extending plates such as those shown at 1*, 1", 1and 1 in Fig. 1. These plates are arranged in opposed pairs. Thustheplates l? and 1 areopposed to each other and the plates 19 and 1 areopposed. In order to arrange the device so that it will be of thehighest efliciency I may have twoor more plates in vertical alinement.In Fig, 2 I have shown the plate 1? as being in alinement with a plate1?. These two plates. 1*" and 1 are designed to be opposed by plates 1?and 1 It is. thus apparent that Imay have a bat,- teryof opposed plates,this battery consisting of; as many individual plates as occasiondemands] The plates are mounted to slide vertically on guides2, thelatter being mounted on baserblocks 3 carried by the floor or foundation4 andconstituting-supporting posts; for beamssuch as that shown at 5.

Disposed in suitable bearings 6 are crank shafts 7 upon which aremounted gears 8,

these gearsintermeshing as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as tocause the crank shafts of any particular battery to revolvein oppositedirections and at the same rate of speed. Each of the crank shafts 7 isprovided withcranks 9 having connecting rods 10 connected to a lug orbracket 11 attached to the lower end by one of the verticallyreciprocating plates. Each of, the crank shafts 7 is provided with abeveled gear 12 arranged to mesh with a similar gear 13 on a drive shaft14.

The cranks 9 and the connecting rods 10 of the opposed plates are of thesame dimensions, and consequently it will be seen that as the shafts 7revolve the opposedplates will be given a simultaneous reciprocatorymovement in a vertical direction.

Each of the plates is provided with a series ofrectangular openings 15,these openings being preferably arranged in horizontal and verticalrows, as clearly shown in 1 Fig. 2. Arranged to project through eachrectangular opening is the squared portion 16 of a comb member 16 havinga series of teeth 16 like thoseshown in Fig. 10. A rod or spindle 1 6 issecured to the portion l6 -and is provided with a cross pin 16?.

InFigs. 7 to 9 I have shown themeans for mounting the comb members Thiscomprises a U-shaped bracket 17 which is secured tothe plate,suchasshown at 1", 1', 1,

etc., by means of bolts 18 or any other suitable fasteningmembers. Thisbracket has an opening 17 through which a bar 19 is arranged to slide.The latter bears at one end a roller or wheel 20 and is provided at theopposite end with a cylindrical bore 21 arranged to receive the spindle16 of the comb member 16. The pin 16 is arranged to play in a slot 22which extends through the bar 19 from side to side, as

clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 9.

Referring again to Fig. 9 it will be seen that the spindle 16 has athreaded portion 16 upon which are disposed lock nuts 23. These looknuts hold a rubber bushing 24 washers 25 being provided at the ends ofthe bushing. A cross pin 26 is carried by the bar 19 and is disposedinside of the U- shaped frame 17, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A spiralspring 27 surrounds that portion of the bar 19 within the bracket 17 andbears at one end against the pin 26 and at the other end upon the plate1*. It will be observed that whenever pressure comes on the roller 20tending to force it toward the plate 1 there will be a bodily movementof the bar 19 which will tend to thrust the comb 16 forward against thetension of the spring 27. If the end of the comb should meet withresistance opposing this movement the rubber cushion will tend to becompressed, the pin 16 sliding rearwardly in the slot 22 during thiscompression, but returning to its normal position at one end of the slotwhen the compressing force on the rubber cushion has been removed.Disposed immediately above the comb member 16 is a shield 28 which isinclined downwardly, as shown in Fig. 7. This shield extends not onlyover one comb member 16, but over all of the comb members which are inthe same horizontal row, and is held in place by means of bolts 18, asshown in Fig. 7.

Referring now to Fig. 1 I have shown a support 29 at the top of which ismounted a stub shaft 30 bearing on each end a cam wheel 31. Adescription of one of these cam wheels will suffice since they are allalike. Each wheel consists of a substantially fiat plate having acentral opening 32 arranged to receive the shaft (see Fig. 4) andbearing an annular cam surface 33 on one face of the wheel. The quadrantbe tween the points 00 and y is flat, as will be seen from Fig. 6, whilethe quadrant between the points y and z is gradually inclined outwardlyaway from the body portion of the wheel. From 2 around to w the camsurface consists of a series of alternately raised and depressedportions.

Arranged to cooperate with the cam wheels 31 are the grids 34 which aremounted to slide on rods 35. These grids are provided with convergingarms 36 which bear at their point of convergence a roller 37 arranged tobe engaged by the cam wheel 31. Springs 38 are provided between thegrids 34 and guides 39 at the upper and lower ends of the verticallymovable plates l and 1 etc., as clearly shown in Fig. 1. As will be seenfrom Fig. 3 the bars of the grids are in alinement with the verticalrows of holes 15 so that when the combs are in position these bars willengage the rollers 20 as shown in Fig. 1.

The means for suspending the plants and moving them laterally betweenthe opposed combs, forms no part of the present invention. Any suitablemeans may be used. In order, however, that the operation of the combingdevices may be better understood, I have indicated briefly and showndiagrammatically means by which the plants may be held and conveyedbetween the combs.

Carried by the stub shaft 30 is a sprocket wheel 40 over which asprocket chain 41 is designed to move. The latter passes over a sprocketwheel-42 on ashaft 43 which bears mutilated or intermittent gears 44(see Fig. 1) arranged to engage teeth 45 on pulleys 46. The sprockets 46are disposed opposite similar sprockets 47. Endless flexible members 48which may be belts are carried upon the sprockets 46 and 47. As will beseen from Fig. 2 thesprockets 46 are at the opposite ends of thebattery. The belt on the sprockets 46 is in. contact with the belt onthe sprockets 47 from the feed end to the discharge end.

It will be understood that as many batteries of opposed rows of combsmay be used as necessary. To this end mechanism similar to that shown inFig. l in which cam wheels are provided for operating the grids shouldbe provided between adjacent batteries. Thus the converging arms 36which are secured to the grids 34 that operate the teeth projectingthrough the plates 1 at the left of Fig. 1 and 1 at the right of Fig. 1are designed to be operated by cam wheels 31 (not shown) but which areprecisely similar to those which are shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device theoperation thereof may be readily understood.

Power may be applied to the shaft 14 and motion transmitted therefrom tothe shaft 43 in any suitable manner as for instance by means of asprocket chain .50 which runs over a sprocket 51 on the shaft 14 and asprocket 52 on the shaft 43. The sprockets 51 and 52 are designed to beof equal size therefore causing equal revolutions of the shafts 14 and43. As has already been pointed out the revolution of the shaft 14causes the turning of the shafts 7 through the medium of the gears 12and 13, see Fig. 2. The plates 1, 1 1, 1 and the like will therefore bereciprocated by the rotation of the arms 9, through the medium of theconnecting rods 10. All of the plates will move upwardly at the sametime and downwardly at thesame time. In other words, there will be asimultaneous reciprocation of the plates. Consider Fig. 1, the rollers37 are at the point Y of the cam wheel shown in Fig. I and the cam wheelis revolving. The plates 1,-1 etc., are moving upwardly at the lastquarter of their stroke. During this last quarter the grids 34: will beforced inwardly owing to the inclination of the cam between the points Yand Z. WVhen the cam wheel has turned to bring the point Z against therollers 37 the combs in opposed plates will be alternately forced towardand away from each other owing to the fluted surface of the cam wheelbetween the points Z and X. This action will occur during the entiredownward movement of the plates. When the cam wheel reaches the point Xthere is a sudden drop and the springs 38 push the grids away from theplates thereby withdrawing the teeth.

The plants are fed in laterally between the portions of the conveyerbelts. In order to make use of the greater portion of the plant they areinverted and the thicker part of the stem is inserted between theconveyers where they are gripped tightly and pass laterally through abattery of opposedplates. The lateral movement is effected'by means ofthe gears 44. These may be timed so as to provide for the propermovement of the plants and are preferably mutilated gears so arrangedthat the conveyer belts may be moved fast or slow as occasion demands.WVhen the plants have passed the battery they are checked by theconveyer.

As has been stated in the upward movement of the plates l 1", etc.., theteeth in opposed plates begin to approach each other so that when theplates reach their highest point the combs are as far in the plants asthey can go. The pulpy part of the plant is smashed between the jawsformed by the opposed combs. At the downward motion of the plates theteeth are pulled through the plant for a certain distance and then areretracted. This occurs over and over again during the downward movementof the plates. The action of the combs is therefore a two-fold one, thatis to say, a smashing or crushing action, and a raking or combingaction. Each time that the combs are retracted certain parts of thedecorticated matter is freed and tends to fall downwardly 'be tween theplates. This action is facilitated by means of the shield plates 28,which are disposed above each row of combs or teeth.

In practice it is desirable to give a large number of short strokes uponthe fibrous plants as they first enter the device and to graduallyincrease the stroke as they progress through the battery. This isaccomfacilitate the removal of the pulp, pipes are carried between thecross members 5. These pipes are perforated on their lower parts so asto discharge a stream of water on the plants as the latter are beingconveyed through the batteries. The water assists in washing the pulpaway and in keeping the combs clean.

As the plants are fed along the fiber becomes more and more clean, sothat when the plants are finally discharged from the conveyer the onlypart of the plant which has not been decorticated are the butts whichare gripped by the conveyer mechanism. The plants may be dried afterwhich the butts may be cut off in any convenient manner.

The device. described herein is effectivefor handling any of thenon-lignous fibrous plants possessing at its root a more or less hardand bulky bulb, rhizom, or large peduncle; even strips of long fibrousleaves, such as those of the numerous species of the agave plant or ofmusa trunks could be effectively handled by tying a knot at the upperend of the strips, thus preventing any possibility of their slidingthrough the serrations of the belts 48.

I claim:

1. In a decorticating device, a'pair of opposed plates, means forreciprocating said opposed plates synchronously, slidable combs carriedby each of said plates, the combs of one plate being opposed to thecombs on the other plate, and means for causing the simultaneousapproach and recession of said opposed combs with respect to one anotherduring the reciprocation of the plates. 2. In a decorticating device, apair of opposed plates provided with a series of horizontal rows ofopenings, a series of combs, each of said combs having a shank arrangedto enter one of the openings in said plates, means for reciprocating theopposed plates simultaneously, and means engaging the shanks of thecombs simultaneously for forcing the combs toward one another during thereciprocation of the plates.

3. In a decorticating device, a vertically disposed slidable plate, saidplate being provided with a series of openings, means for reciprocatingthe plate, a series of combs, each of said combs having a shank arrangedto enter one of said openings, a slidable member arranged tosimultaneously engage the shanks of the combs for moving them withrespect to the plate, and means for moving said slidable member towardand away from the shanks of the combs.

4. In a decorticating device, a vertically disposed slidable plate, saidplate being provided with a series of openings, means for reciprocatingthe plate, a series of combs, each of said combs having a shank arrangedto enter one of said openings, a slidable member arranged tosimultaneously engage the shanks of the combs for moving them withrespect to the plate, means for moving said slidable member toward andaway from the shanks of the combs, said last named means comprising armscarried by said slidable member on one side thereof, a. cam rollercarried by said arms, a cam wheel in engagement with said cam roller,means for operating said cam wheel, and springs disposed between saidslidable member and said plate.

5. In a decorticating device, a vertically slidable plate provided witha plurality of openings, a plurality of combs each having a shankarranged to enter one of the open ings in said plate, a roller carriedby each of said shanks, an individual spring ar ranged to engage eachshank for normally holding its comb near the plate, a slidable griddisposed parallel with said plate, guide members for said grid, the barsof sad grid being arranged to register with the rollers on the shanks ofthe comb, a cam wheel,

5 means for operating the latter, connections between said cam wheel andsaid grid for bringing the grid into engagement with the rollers on theshanks, thereby forcing the :ombs away from the plates, and spring meansdisposed on the opposite side of the grid from the cam and adapted toforce the grid toward the cam, thereby retracting the combs.

6. in a decorticating device, a vertically slidable plate provided witha plurality of openings, a plurality of combs each ha a shank arrangedto enter one of the openings in said plate, a roller carried each ofsaid shanks, an individual spring arranged to engage each shank fornormal r holding its comb near the plate, a slid-a; a grid disposedparallel with-said plate, gin members for said grid, the bars of said idbeing arranged to register with the rollers on the shanks of the comb, acam wheel, means for operating the latter, connections between said camwheel and said grid for bringing the grid into engagement with therollers on the shanks, thereby forcing the combs away from the plates,spring means disposed on the opposite side of the grid from the cam andadapted to force the grid toward the cam, thereby retracting the combs,and a plurality of angularly inclined shields carried by said plate,each of said rows being disposed above and adjacent to a row of combs.

JEAN l3. LAFONT.

l/Vitnesses V EDWARD J. THILBORGER, Louis HENRY BURNS.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

